Traditional East Asian Medicine Treatment of Migraine Headaches

Chief Complaint: Headache 40 +years, adverse 12 years

Western Diagnosis: Daily tension headache, migraine

Medical History: A 57 year-old Female, got headache when she was 12 years old.At the beginning, the headache just occurred each week, and the time was not lasted very long–3-4 hours per time and the pain was not located a specific part.After took pain-killer drug,it could be relieved.12 years ago, the headache became more and more frequent, almost headache every day, and from the morning to evening, the patient had to take medicine everyday,about 3-4 pills a day.

Questioning exam: The headache is not located to a specific part of the head,sometime is at left or right side,sometime is at back part or at the neck.Sometime the pain is severe but sometime the pain is not so hard but last very long time.Her face is pale and a little bit green/blue,

Pulse exam: thin pulse,and there are no adverse signs could be found in general physical and neurological examinations.

Tongue exam: tongue is dark red with a little bit purple. Her body is very thin.

These foods or supplements were reported to induce migraine or let headache worse in conventional medicine.

In Chinese medicine view, at least MSG could cause internal heat(fire), if you have a try, after take some MSG, you will feel dry in mouth and need some water.

If eat Orange more, the tongue will be red–heat sign.

And Sea food,may cause MSG like reaction, and they may cause some allergy reaction–in conventional theory, migraine may be related to allergy factors.

Wind/liqueur will cause internal fire/heat, cause Liver- yang upper.

Results: After one week treatment, patient could not use western pain pills. And after one month, the pain is not so frequent, just decreased to 1-2 times per week. So I tell patient to take Tian Ma Du Zhong capsule and Qi Ju Di Huang Wan for long-term treatment, and take herbal tea 3-4 times per week. During hafe year treatment, patient feel more happier and just 1-2 times headache per month and almost no need to take pain pills.